Nazareth Hospital aims to be first center without in-house infections

Six to nine percent of our patients get in-house infections.

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
Doctor [Illustrative] (photo credit: INGIMAGE)
Doctor [Illustrative]
(photo credit: INGIMAGE)
EMMS Nazareth Hospital has declared its intention to become the first medical center in the country without nosocomial (contracted in-house) infections.
On Wednesday, there was an event to raise the awareness of the dangers of potentially deadly infections contracted in hospitals by patients, which was aimed at medical staffers and the general public. The use of proper hand-washing techniques and sanitation was emphasized, in order to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses in the wards.
Dr. Muhammad Taha, head of the Christian, nonprofit hospital’s infectious diseases department, explained how various pathogens are spread and how to prevent this.
Stands with information on the subject were opened at all five entrances to the hospital.
Hospital director-general Dr. Bishara Bisharat – the first, and only hospital director in the country to purchase healthier, more expensive whole-grain bread for all patients and staff, instead of white bread – said nosocomial diseases are not inevitable.
“These can be controlled and prevented. As hospital administrators, we must do more to fight them and think out of the box about solutions. Six to nine percent of our patients get in-house infections. A total of 5,000 Israelis die of nosocomial hospital infections each year,” he said. “These activities are the first step. We intend to be the country’s first hospital that is free of nosocomial infections.”